Jerkbait questions

[outdoorsman_33]

all good info, I tried jerk bait for the 1st time early early last spring it was cold out, water somewhat clear no bites I bought the rapalla tenesee shad,and the shad color in two sizes, no luck what so ever. Are these good colors? I knew you needed clear water that is why I went with the natural color baits. I know these baits work to many people catch fishe with them, maybe it is me.

I would say that you were fishing them during the right time. I use to live in South Dakota and we would fish them the minute the ice came off of the lake. Often times though we would fish when the water was 43 deg. and you would be fishing for about three bites all day. But the fish are usually nice sized. I catch fish on them all year though. The main thing in the spring is your retrieve. You want to fish it slow. Sometimes 5-9 seconds between jerks. Another important aspect that when the water is cold is that you want to fish with suspending jerkbaits. Modifications may need to be done to the bait to make it suspend by either adding or taking away weight with storm suspend strips/lead wire. Once the water warms then start fishing floating Jerkbaits. A third thing to remember is to jerk on a slack line and then reel up the slack. This gives the jerkbait a more natural appeal to the bass by making it look wounded.

[junkfisher]

I think a lighter line helps like 8lb with a loop knot for good action

[kygorski]

I like to use a snap, small ones work best.Changing lures is much easier. Exception might be on a sammy or spook, then I tie right to the lure in some cases, but I also use a snap with the above baits

[kygorski]

about those xraps those colors work well in clear shallower water, after it warms a bit. You need to try different places with them. That smaller size is great over deeper weeds, wind blown shores, There are times when off the wall colors will slay em, but its conditions again.